Love being a FlyBaby =)

Have you ever been frustrated by the clutter that seem to never disappear and even times seem to grow into an uncontrollable monster??? lol. Well, this past two weeks, that what kinda what I was feeling. I was surrounded by things just left everywhere and the piles just kept growing. I WAS definitely overwhelmed! Didn't help of course the I was sick too so that just makes things 10 times more depressing. lol.

Last week, I decided to check out a website that my prof spoke about in my Spouses' Tools class. The website is www.flylady.com. She recommended it if we needed help to get ourselves into a routine or if we found ourselves frustrated and overwhelmed and needed someone to tell us where to start. lol. Well, as you can imagine, I was in that boat and needed someone to organize me and my thoughts. lol.

Anyway, I joined the group and at first it was a bit overwhelming looking at all the notes, reminders, and suggestions but she was quite reassuring to take things slow. As a newbie, I'm called a FlyBaby. I love that! And so there are Baby Steps that as a "baby" I follow to get me going and get me into a routine. =) The first task is "Shine Your Sink". There's a video that I watched about that and it was funny but so inspiring at that same time. I won't lie and say my home is the perfect clutter free home. It's not and it was inspiring that other women where brave enough to share their journey from chaos to shiny and serene! =)

So I tackled my sink and followed the instructions. And I couldn't believe my eyes... my sink was SHINING!!!!!!! WOW! Even my son exclaimed, "Wow, Mom, I've never seen the sink like this!" lol. We all love how the sink and the counter looks and it just seem so contagious everywhere else. Mind you... I have to take it slow and follow the schedule but I'm definitely loving my kitchen/dining area. =)

Here's some pictures! =)

Creamy Garlic Potato Soup

1 tb. light olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced or thinly sliced (I also added more garlic powder)
4 cups of water
4 tsp. mckay's Chicken seasoning
3 cups potatoes, diced (I adjusted this to 4)
1 cup Tofu sour cream (recipe below)
2 tb. fresh dill, chopped or 2 tsp. dried dill
salt to taste

In large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until translucent; add garlic to onions and saute an additional 2 to 3 minutes.

Add water and broth or seasoning and bring to boil. Add potatoes and return to boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

Working with half of mixture at a time, transfer to food processor or blender. (Note: I didn't blend all the potatoes as I like to chew on something in my soup) Process until pureed. Return to pot. Stir in remaining ingredients. Stir over low heat until heated through. Serve warm. Garnish with fresh dill and/or green onion slices.

Tofu Yogurt or Sour Cream
1 10-ounce soft tofu
2 tbs. canola oil (I used olive oil)
1 tbs. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp salt

Blend together and add to the partial pureed soup.

I added more water as it was too thick. We really liked this recipe.

*recipe taken from More Choices by Cheryl Thomas-Peters & James Peters*

Cooking Adventure...

Encouraged by a friend, I decided to go on a healthy cooking adventure! =D Yay!

Ok, I wasn't really that happy about it yesterday when I had to sit down and come up with a whole month's menu (dinner only since it was the only meal my entire family is together). It was daunting at first. I kept looking at the calendar for the remaining days in March and entire month of April and thought how can I possibly fill the each day with something new and exciting. lol. My friend, Chrystyna, has done this to keep track of her food intake and also budgeting as we all know eating healthy is expensive!!!

So I gathered all my cookbooks and even found some that I didn't know I had or had never opened! lol. It took me a few hours but I filled in a whole month and a half without pulling my hair!!! That took a lot out of me. lol. But now that I had the menu down, it was time to cook. Yikes! I don't think I'm a bad cook but I'm not very adventurous so this was a bit out of my comfort zone.

Today was the 2nd day. Yesterday was "Over Rice" Day like Stir-fry over rice kinda stuff. I made Teriyaki Vegetable Stir-Fry... making homemade teriyaki sauce and the family like it! Yay!!! Then today was Soup Day. I made Creamy Garlic Potato Soup. It took me a while to make it. It just does when I try new things coz I wanna make sure I got it right. It was a simple recipe tho and doesn't really take that long to make... it was just me being picky. lol. Anyway, it turned out really good. My son and husband loved it and so did I!!! =) I served it with salad (which was hardly touched other than myself) and a 7 grain loaf bread. I was a delicious meal! =) Great recipe, Cheryl!!! (author of the recipe book. lol.)

trusting His heart

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." ... For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9,10

~God is enough for me... for my problems, my pain, my hurt and my desires. When I am afraid or worried or self-condemning, I will remember WHO sustains me! God is sufficient! So I will lay my burdens, flaws, needs, guilt, anger, frustration, fear, disappointments and desires on His shoulders and trust His heart!!!~

princess

I realized that I'm a princess!!! Yes, you read right... I'm a princess! Not only did I mentally acknowledged it but also I felt like a princess!

If God is our Father and He was the King then that would make you and me princesses and princes! I knew that. But it was only this weekend did I really feel it from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. I felt incredibly loved. I felt special and incredibly precious even with all my flaws. I felt Him loving on me! And boy, it's an incredible feeling to be loved like that!

It's incredibly humbling to experience the connection between the knowing and the feeling of being loved greatly. But what's even more liberating is finally accepting that kind of love from Him. To allow Him to love me. To allow myself to feel His love without attaining "perfection" first so I would deserve that love. To allow Him to see and touch the hurt inside my heart... to acknowledge that it's there and it hurts. That it's ok that He sees it and that I share it with Him. And that it's ok to let go of it... and allow Him to heal it. Oh, I felt so filled... filled to overflowing with His love.

I am His and He is my Father. And I am HIS princess!

S.T.O.P

satisfied to look on Him

This week has been a little rough. It wasn't because I was so busy but more like I was often discouraged and frustrated. I wanted to go to Revive tonight (vespers) but I came home late from helping one of the Auntie's at church and it had started already. So instead of rushing everyone out and knowing me it would frustrate me... I opted to just stay home.

I ended up listening to some of my favorite songs online. I came across this song called "Before The Throne of God Above" and oh... the comfort and peace the words gave was exactly what I needed. An awesome reminder of my Savior's mercy and love. My favorite part says... "When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look, and see Him there who made an end of all my sin. Because a sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free; For God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me, to look on Him and pardon me."

Oh what comfort that is!!!

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea:

A great High Priest, whose name is Love,

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,

My name is written on his heart;

I know that while in heaven he stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look, and see him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,

Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I am,

The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by his blood

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ, my Savior and my God

With Christ, my Savior and my God

I love this song...

My true VALENTINE...

On this Valentine's Day, I'm remembering and celebrating God's love for me. JESUS is and always have been my true Valentine. =)

I cannot help but think of Him on this day of love because HE IS LOVE. He has shown us what TRUE LOVE is. It's not the love the world tells us... it's not the shower of roses and chocolates. It's not sweet words of beauty and dedication. It's the love that is quiet and constant. It's the love that is never broken or taken back. It's the love that is given so freely. It's the love that requires no payment or return. It's the love that remains at the end of the day when our "masks" are taken off. It's the deep love that He gives no matter what your circumstance is... no matter the state of your heart. It's there... HIS LOVE... it's always there!

So today, I will especially thank Him for His love. I will tell Jesus that I LOVE HIM! I will remember how beautiful He is and how He's wooed me for 28 years and 6 months to continue to fall in love with Him. And even after sooooo many years, He still continues to prove to me how great and marvellous His love is for me.

Oh my Jesus, you love me like no other! You bring such joy with your love and make me feel so special. You give me presents every day of my 28 years of life. You listen to me all day, every day without complain or time limit. You still stand beside me even when I refuse to talk to You and hold me with complete forgiveness, compassion and understanding when I run back to You! You help me pick up the broken and ugly pieces of my life, put them together and make it a life long work of Your art!

To my VALENTINE, I love you so much! Your love is addictive and extravagant. Your love sustains me and give me hope and joy. I'm so in love with You. I look forward to spending the rest of my life on earth and in heaven with You! Oh, what a sweet sweet meeting that will be when I see my beautiful Valentine face to face!

"I can only imagine, what it will be like when I walk, by Your side.

I can only imagine, what my eyes will see when your face is before me. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel. Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all! I can only imagine.

I can only imagine, when that day comes and I find myself standing in the Son.

I can only imagine, when all I will do is forever, forever worship You.

I can only imagine!"